San Diego is one of the most expensive communities in the nation. But, America’s Finest City is home to America’s Finest value when it comes to watching a baseball game.
The annual Team Marketing Report Fan Cost Index is out for 2015. San Diego has the cheapest average ticket at $16.37, which is flat this season after a small increase in 2014. It’s interesting that a team that made so many moves in the off-season and generated an immense amount of buzz would not start charging more for admission.
The Kansas City Royals, fresh off their World Series run, increased ticket prices this year by 20.3 percent, up to $29.76. Across Major League Baseball, tickets increased by 3.3 percent to $28.94 for the 2015 season.
The Padres also rank among the league’s cheapest ballpark experiences according to The Fan Cost Index (FCI). That’s the average price to take a family of four to a game, including four non-premium season tickets, two beers, four soft drinks, four hot dogs, parking and two adult-size hats.
San Diego is the 2nd-best value in baseball on that list, totaling $153.45 for a family of four to see a game. Only the Diamondbacks, who have the lowest concessions prices in the league, come in cheaper.
The MLB average is $211.68, up 2.5 percent from a year ago.
No surprise to see the Boston Red Sox come in with the highest average ticket price and FCI. Recent success, a rabid fan base and an iconic stadium allow them to do that on an almost yearly basis. You can see the full FCI chart for all 30 MLB teams here.
